TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file presentation by Water Department regarding Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage update. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Unprecedented legal rulings and extreme weather related conditions are significantly impacting the reliability of southern California's primary imported water sources, the Sacramento Bay Delta and the Colorado River. In fact, due to these factors, southern California has been relying on in-State strategic water supply reserves to meet even the most basic water needs for the last 13 months. Those reserves are now at their lowest combined level since 1977. Due to the City's reliance on imported water supplies (42 percent of our water demand) a citywide Declaration of Immediate and Extraordinary Water Conservation was announced on June 14, 2007, by the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Long Beach.
On August 31, 2007, United States District Court Judge Oliver Wanger, issued a ruling to mitigate the impacts pumping in the Sacramento Bay Delta has on several species of endangered fish, particularly the Delta Smelt. This ruling alone has led to a permanent reduction in imported water deliveries from the Sacramento Bay Delta. Future rulings on additional Sacramento Bay Delta endangered fish are also expected. On September 13, 2007, following Judge Wanger's decision, the Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage and implemented the City's Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan, putting in place several prohibitions on certain uses of potable water, particularly outdoor uses.
The Long Beach Water Department has been engaged in an aggressive public communications effort promoting immediate and extraordinary water conservation for the past 15 months.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KEVIN L. WATTIER
GENERAL MANAGER